Before you head to Las Vegas for the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference, we’ve compiled a primer on Brewers Association (BA) stories (and one video) from the past six months to help you prepare. Think of this as the CliffsNotes version. Click the link for more information.
2023 BA Certified Craft Brewery Top 50 Production
Bart Watson, chief economist and vice president of strategy at BA, released the industry body’s list of the top 50 craft breweries by volume in 2023 earlier this week. Jess analyzed all the top 50 jockeys for 2023.
Watson also shared a preview of his State of the Industry speech. BA-defined craft brewery production fell -1% in 2023, the first decline outside of a COVID-19 year. Additionally, the number of store openings has exceeded the number of store closures, but the number of store closures continues to increase. Read all of Watson’s numbers and comments here.
Brewbound Live 2023: 23 Data Points That Defined 2023, Bart Watson and Lester Jones
Speaking of Watson, he and Lester Jones, chief economist at the National Beer Wholesalers Association, presented “23 Data Points That Defined 2023” at the Brewbound Live business conference in December.
Get an early look at last year’s trends and get bonus tips.
Brewers Association announces 2024 winners
BA will recognize the 2024 winners at its general meeting on Monday 22 April.
Find out who won this year’s awards and congratulate them when you meet them.
Leah Cheston is appointed Chair of the Brewers Association Board.Bylaws amended to include contract brewing brands as voting members
Leah Cheston, owner of Washington, D.C.-based Right Proper Brewing Co., was named chair of the BA board for 2024 in February.
Cheston is the second woman to hold the title, following New Belgium co-founder Kim Jordan’s 2005-2007 term, and the first to lead the board as representative of BA’s brewpub class. It turns out.
Mr. Cheston is expected to share his views on the board at Monday’s general meeting. Learn more about Cheston in his A Round of Q&A series, exclusive to Brewbound Insider.
Also read about changes to BA’s bylaws.
Annual report says ‘challenged’ Brewers Association revenue falls by -2% in 2023
Let’s take a closer look at the industry association’s numbers for 2023. Nearly all of BA’s revenue drivers declined year-over-year (year-over-year) during the year. BA’s overall revenue decreased -2% year over year to approximately $22.9 million.
Revenue from events, BA’s biggest source of revenue so far, fell -2% year over year to nearly $13.9 million. Membership revenue, the second largest revenue driver, also fell by -2% year over year to approximately $4.268 million.
Please see here for the detail.
Brewers Association suspends Homebrew Con
The 2024 edition of HomebrewCon, the American Homebrewers Association’s (AHA) annual gathering of homebrewers, will be suspended. In February, AHA announced it would reimagine Homebrew Con in a way that “respects tradition, keeps costs affordable, and returns to AHA’s roots.”
Although this year’s event will take place on ice, BA plans to include home brewers in its Great American Beer Festival (GABF) celebrations from October 10th to 12th in Denver, Colorado. announced.
The move comes a year after BA canceled its annual beer and food pairing event, SAVOR.
Let’s dig deeper into the story here.
Deadline for comment period on potential changes to alcoholic beverage labeling and advertising approaches
What are the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Board’s (TTB) proposed changes to these rules and regulations regarding the labeling and advertising of alcoholic beverages? Mark Solini, General Counsel at BA, provides a preview and outlined how long the process is expected to take (spoiler: it will take years).
Get the scoop on Mr. Solini’s expectations here.
Bart Watson: Hop glut continues as 2023 harvest exceeds 2022 harvest
Finally, 2023 crop yields ended up exceeding 2022 levels, further increasing the hop overstock in the market, Watson shared in February. Hop acreage fell “dramatically” by 6,000 acres.
Over the past decade, hop inventories have grown from approximately 115 million pounds in March 2013 to 185 million pounds in March 2023. According to Watson, this is equivalent to “about two years’ worth of usage.”
Click the link for more information.
Read more: 2024 Craft Brewers Conference Guide by Brewbound
Brewers Association hopes to change craft fortunes at CBC in Las Vegas
Justin’s CBC Picks: State of the Industry, Fawn Weavers, Government Relations, Chain Buyers
Jess’s CBC Picks: Innovation, Annual Business Planning, Beer Education
Zoe’s CBC Picks: Hard Cider, Brand Extensions, Business Smart
Brewbound Podcast: Dr. J from the Brewers Association talks Thrive, CBC, and Vegas Musts
